Reading: Joshua 21
God is true to His word and today’s reading made this very clear to me. When you trust Him and follow His words, He will not lead you astray. However, God will not honor those who disobey. What caught my attention today was the very end of the chapter when all the land had been divided. Once they had done everything, they were asked to do; God gave them rest.
‘So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.’ Joshua 21:43-45
First off, the land which Israel came to possess was originally intended to go to their fathers. Because of their lack of trust in God and heeding the voice of men instead, they were unable to come into the land. God does not reward those that do not heed His voice. Sadly His promise went to the children instead of the fathers, who complained. The fathers could have and should have possessed the land. They had a choice when the spies came back to trust God or trust the ten spies. That choice cost them dearly, it cost them the promise He had for them. How many of us have not taken possession of what belongs to us because of a bad report that we believed over what God spoke and/or promised? Have you been listening to the bad news of others instead of listening to what God says about a situation? God’s word should always trump whatever man says. Often, we allow fear to stop us from trusting and believing God.
Thankfully their children where able to take what God had previously planned for their fathers. They had to fight to take what God was providing. God was with them during that process as well. Accordingly, we too must do our part to receive the promise God has spoken to us or over us. Are you obeying God and stepping out or living in fear of what man has spoken about the situation?
The Israelites could have wondered in the desert longer if they had not been ready to trust God. They had seen the faithfulness He had with them while they wandered and how He provided for them at every opportunity. Mana from heaven every day or water from rocks. God was showing them that if they relied on Him, He was faithful to deliver them and provide for them. They followed a cloud by day and fire by night over the tabernacle. When He stopped, they stopped. Finally, they had to follow and trust Joshua going into battle repeatedly. When they followed the Lord’s leading things went well. Yet when they tried to do it on their own, it did not go as they hoped. God was teaching them to depend on Him for everything.
Finally, when God’s children had done all that He had directed, they were given rest from the battles fought. I don’t know about you but this encourages me that although we will have battles to fight to take what belongs to us; after the battle we will have a time of rest. Unlike in the days of Joshua, we no longer fight men. Paul wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].” (Eph 6:12 NKJV) Our war is in the spiritual realm and we know how the story ends because of the finish work of Jesus Christ. Those battles can still make us exhausted and tired but He promises to give us rest.
And He said, “My Presence will go [with you], and I will give you rest.” (Exo 33:14 NKJV)
“Come to Me, all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mat 11:28 NKJV)
I do not know about you but this is so important today to hear. Go to Jesus, He and He alone can give you rest. Many of us are weary and burdened with the wait of this world’s troubles. Yet we are to give them to Jesus, let Him carry those burdens.
In addition to rest, it says, “not a man of their enemies stood against them.” Our enemy cannot stand against us when we have God fighting with us and on our behalf. The key is that we need Him. Thankfully, He will direct our steps! Amen! He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and give direction. Similar to Israel in the wilderness, we must go when He says go and stop when He says stop, and rest when the battle is won. If we try to do it on our own, we will not be successful.
In conclusion today, it declares, “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All had come to pass.” Not a word failed! Let me repeat that because my heart is overflowing. Not a word failed! God is the same today. Not a word will fail that He has promised you. What promise are you holding onto? What word has He spoken to you or over you?
Not a word will fail.
His word, His promises will come to pass. “All had come to pass,” for His children. That is the good news we have today. The good news that it is and was finished at the cross. Jesus rose three days later and has given us back the authority that Adam and Eve naively gave to Satan in the garden. Jesus took it back. He is victorious; therefore, we are victorious. REJOICE today knowing God’s word will not fail you. All has come to pass. Amen
Yes not a Word from the Lord ever has failed and all His Word comes to pass Amen